Slurry pump cleanout mechanism

ABSTRACT

Concrete slurry pumps, particularly a mechanism enabling separation of the valve housing from the pumping cylinders, to enable a washing cleanout of the cylinders and pumping pistons therein.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,81 1,802 Semple 1 May 21, 1974 [54] SLURRY PUMP CLEANOUT MECHANISM 1,785,687 I 12/1930 Aldrich 417/454 2,685,259 8/1954 Longenecker 417/454 [75] lnvemor' Charles 2,733,664 2/1956 Saalfrank 417/454 Assigneez Engineering Concrete Placer In Midland Mich; 3,364,871 1/1968 W1lson 417/454 3,532,442 10/1970 Van Der Platts 417/900 [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 3,639,086 2/1972 Robbins 417/900 1 3,741,691 6 1973 W'lh l 417 900 21 ,Appl. N0.2 312,764 l v Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh [52] US. Cl. 417/454, 417/900 [51] Int. Cl. F04b 15/02, F04b 21/00, F04b 39/12 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 417/454, 900, 345 Concrete slurry pumps, particularly a mechanism enabling separation of the valve housing from the pump- [56] References Cited ing cylinders, to enable a washing cleanout of the cyl- UNITED STATES PATENTS 'inders and pumping pistons therein.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1,077,419 11/1913 Metcalf ..4l7/454 MTENTEB KAY 2 I 1974 SHEEI 2 IF 2 within the stationary base frame.

- 1 SLURRY PUMP CLEANOUT MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Concrete or slurry pumps of the type which pump aggregate mixtures, subject to. hardening even when completely submerged in water. Such pumpsare required to be cleaned out by periodic hosing with water. In earlier slurry pumps this cleanout has been difficult, necessitating breaking apart or unbolting of the pumping and valving components with resultant down-time and increased labor costs.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No.'3,326,l35, is typical of the cementor I slurry pumps in present use. Cleanout by hosing can only be effected by manual dismantling of those parts illustrated. Y

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION frame,such that the pumping cylinderinteriors are exposed for hosing cleanout. Aguide trackand suitable cam elements are interposed between the slideable 3 frame and-base frame so, as to assist horizontal reciprocation of the slideable frame with respect to the base frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, showing at the left the hopper and valving housing disengaged and extended apart from the pumping cylinders. by means of the slideable frame and so as to enable cleanout of the cylinders; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top'plan', showing the valve housing connected to the pumping cylinders 'inslurry pumping position, as the slideable frame is retracte DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED. EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 valve housing lis shown supported apart from pumping housing, generally designated as 12, The valve housing includes asuitablelower bearing carrier bar 14 and a topplate 22, supportingbearing retainer plate 102 which in turnsupports yoke 24'in'which the slurry or cement hopper 26-, is removeably positioned. The valve housing may include entry port98, connectable with the interiors of the individual pumping cylinders 38 and 40, as well as dischatg portl00.

A suitable limit switch bracket 28is shown illustrated in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, individualbushings 90 and support bolts 92 are showntogetherwith bumper pad supports 94 and 96 The base stationary frame 88 is rectangular in configuration and includes a comcrete pump back frame 76 at its open end and a concrete pump cylinder frame 86 at its closed end. The valve housing entry port 98 is connectable to the concrete pump back frame 76 by means of four or more bolts 18 and 20. A pry block 16 may also assist in disengagement, as the bolts 18 and are pulled. The individual pumping cylinders 38 and 40 each may include piston assembly piston rod 44 with piston head 42 pressurized by means of hydraulic cylinders 46 shown in fragment. The individual hydraulic cylinders 46 and 48 amyinclude suitable lube-rod brackets 52 and limit switch brackets 50. Also, individuallimit switch brackets 56 and 58 may be positioned at the rear end of the pumping cylinders.

A top track 60 may be positioned so as to guide cam 62 secured to slideable frame 30 at its rear. Similarly, an inner truck frame 82may be secured in the base frame intermediate the pumping cylinders 38 and 40 with moveable cam element 80 supported at its forward end in between the truck frame 82 and the slideable frame 30.

The slideable frame 30 includes at its forward end bracket 32' supporting eye-bolt 34 such that a suitable cable 70, might extend from rod 68 mounted in forward bracket 66 around median pulley 74 secured to the hydraulic cylinder 64 piston, thence to the eye-bolt 34. Similarly, second cable 72 may extend from hook 104 secured to. the inner end of sliding frame 30 around pulley 74 and to a suitable eye-bolt 84, illustrated in phantom and secured to the base stationary frame 86.

Aswill be apparent, the hydraulic cylinder 64 may be pivoted in. bracket 66 by means of pin 106 such that extension of the piston rod 108 and pulley 74 causes a movement of the slideable frame to the right and inwardly of the base frame 86, so that valving housing entry port 98 abuts the open ends of the pumping cylinders 38 and 40. The fix, bolts 18 and 20 may then be secured. As pumping is completed and it is desired to hose or clean out the pumping cylinder interiors, the hydraulic cylinder 64 is activated to retract piston 108 and pulley 74 such that the cable 72 and slideable frame. 30 are pulled to the, left and outwardly of the base frame 86 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, and guided by engagement of cam 60 on the top and cam 80 on the bottom. I

Manifestly, variations in pumping cylinder and valve housing construction may be included without departing from the spirit of invention.

I claim:

1. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism comprising:

A. a base stationary frame;

B. a slideable. frame reciprocably supported within said base frame, and including cam followers engageable with said stationary frame;

C. a receiver hopper and valve housing including receiving and discharge ports, removeably secured to a free end of said slideable frame;

D. at least one concrete .pumping cylinder including a pumpingpiston, supported in said base frame so that its discharge end is removably connectable to said receiving port in said valve housing, as said sliding frame is nestled within said base frame; and

E. a'drive unit interconnecting said base frame and said slideable frame, so as to slide said slideable frame longitudinally with respect to said base frame, so as to disengage said valve housing from said cylinder, said drive unit including a hydraulic piston having a pulley mounted upon its piston rod and cable means interconnecting opposite ends of said slideable frame with said pulley, such that said movement of said piston reciprocates said slideable frame with respect to said base frame.

2. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 1, including at least two concrete pumping cylinders mounted in said base frame and connectable to said receiving port in said valve housing.

3. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 2, said stationary frame including an upper track, said cam follower being supported intermediate said slideable frame and said upper track.

4. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 3, including a lower truck frame positioned between said pumping cylinders and a cam follower interposed between said slideable frame and said lower truck frame.

5. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 4, including limit switch means mounted upon said base frame, so as to disengage said hydraulic cylinder as said 

1. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism comprising: A. a base stationary frame; B. a slideable frame reciprocably supported within said base frame, and including cam followers engageable with said stationary frame; C. a receiver hopper and valve housing including receiving and discharge ports, removeably secured to a free end of said slideable frame; D. at least one concrete pumping cylinder including a pumping piston, supported in said base frame so that its discharge end is removably connectable to said receiving port in said valve housing, as said sliding frame is nestled within said base frame; and E. a drive unit interconnecting said base frame and said slideable frame, so as to slide said slideable frame longitudinally with respect to said base frame, so as to disengage said valve housing from said cylinder, said drive unit including a hydraulic piston having a pulley mounted upon its piston rod and cable means interconnecting opposite ends of said slideable frame with said pulley, such that said movement of said piston reciprocates said slideable frame with respect to said base frame.
 2. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 1, including at least two concrete pumping cylinders mounted in said base frame and connectable to said receiving port in said valve housing.
 3. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 2, said stationary frame including an upper track, said cam follower being supported intermediate said slideable frame and said upper track.
 4. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 3, including a lower truck frame positioned between said pumping cylinders and a cam follower interposed between said slideable frame and said lower truck frame.
 5. A slurry pump clEanout mechanism as in claim 4, including limit switch means mounted upon said base frame, so as to disengage said hydraulic cylinder as said slideable frame is nestled within said base frame.
 6. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 5, said valve housing including a pry block adjacent said receiving port and connectable to said concrete pumping cylinders.
 7. A slurry pump cleanout mechanism as in claim 6, said receiver hopper being mounted above said valve housing intermediate said receiving and discharge ports. 